Great Upheaval

"May you live in interesting times" is often cited as a Chinese curse by English speakers who use it. While I'm not sure of its true origin, I always chuckle when I hear it. It's usually said in a tone of light-hearted banter. Given recent events here in the US, I don't need to elaborate on what this quip refers to.

Humor aside, many people are finding the world to be feeling even more chaotic and unsafe than before. Coping mechanisms that once worked are starting to feel less effective. In times like these, the seductive release of panic and despair can begin to feel more tempting and appropriate.

Even now, timeless wisdom can help you maintain your center and work towards calm and effective self-protection. When it feels like the barbarians are at the gate and the castle walls are under siege, it's crucial to keep our wits about us. Now more than ever, we must double down on our helpful mindset and self-care practices.

This month, we are offering you a menu of timeless wisdom that originated during an era when humans had far fewer possessions, medical care, and resources than we do today. Back then, our lives were shorter and more susceptible to disease and accidents. Despite the frequent and guaranteed daily tragedies, the resilience of the human spirit shines brightly. Many authors, saints, and sages have provided the following guidance for even the darkest times.

Gird your loins, dear friends! Here are a few ways to fortify your soul and hunker down for what's to come:

1. Return to the Source: The source is an infinite resource available to us all. When we open ourselves to the unseen that is greater than us, we feel replenished and connected. The purpose of spiritual practices is to connect us to that sense of connection and purpose, no matter what you believe about the beyond.

2. Seek Guidance: Call a friend. Find a coach. Seek a therapist. Read a book. Connect with your spiritual entity of choice. YOU ARE NOT ALONE! 

3. Community Support: Connect with like-minded individuals or support groups for shared experiences and encouragement. If you think no one wants you, think again. You may be depriving someone of your light. Whoever you seek is also seeking you.

4. Embrace the Unknown: Accepting uncertainty and being open to new beginnings can be empowering. Expect big changes and take a leap of faith!

5. Find What’s Funny: Laughter is medicine. When things feel too serious and there’s not a lot that can be done about it, learn from comedians and laugh your way through it.

6. Seek Inner Strength: Tap into your inner resilience. Move your body! Go to a comedy show. Upheaval is a call to face challenges with courage and patience. Humor helps too.

7. Reflect and Plan: Take time for introspection. Face your problems and work to solve them. Avoidance creates more suffering. Reflect on your goals and values, and plan your next steps carefully.

8. Balance and Harmony: Maintain balance and harmony. Stay calm and find a middle ground amidst chaos. Use breath and movement here.

9. Emotional Healing: Orient towards hope and healing. Focus on self-care and emotional well-being. Last issue focused on this topic in great detail: https://prospontherapy.beehiiv.com/p/savoring-good

10. Embrace Evolution: Transformation and rebirth are a part of life! Let go of old patterns and embrace personal evolution.

11. Adaptability: TRUST that you can adapt to sudden changes and innovation. Being flexible and open to new ideas can help you navigate these shifts. Ask for help. Get some rest. Exhale.

12. Grounding Practices: During turbulent times, grounding practices are crucial. Use the powers of organization and practicality to bring calm to a rough ride. Spending time walking barefoot in the grass helps too.

13. Emotional Resilience: Feel and EXPRESS your emotions. Let yourself ugly cry. Go behind the house and scream, stomp, and flail your anger. Laugh maniacally. Sit there and feel powerless for a minute. You’ll feel so much better, gain clarity, and, as a bonus, it's like a free facelift because you let go of all the tension it takes to hold the emotions at bay. 

14. Meditation and Mindfulness: Use contemplative practices to stay centered. Learn to maintain a meditative state off the cushion and in your life.

15. Journaling: Reflecting on your experiences and feelings through journaling or dictation can provide clarity.

In these times of great upheaval, it is essential to remember that you are not alone. The wisdom of the ages, shared by those who have walked similar tumultuous paths, offers us guidance and strength. Embrace the unknown, seek inner resilience, and reflect on your journey with intention. Balance and harmony, emotional healing, and adaptability are not just lofty ideals but practical tools for navigating change. Ground yourself through mindfulness, journaling, and community support. By doing so, you can transform chaos into a journey of growth and self-discovery. Together, let's face the future with courage, hope, and an unyielding spirit.

What’s new at Prosopon

• The website is getting revamped.

• We are regularly posting on Facebook and Instagram.

• The Nervous System Network for Clinicians Group on Facebook has been activated. Our colleague Tara Dennison, OT did the legwork for us. Thanks Tara!

  • This is an interdisciplinary nervous system regulation group that has been a long time in the making. My colleague Beth Anne Fischer (find her on Substack: https://bethannefisher.substack.com/) and I have been discussing creating this group for about 5 years now and it finally here!

New at the Blog

This month posts were all inspired by conversations with friends, colleagues, and clients. Giftedness appears twice as a topic. It has come to my attention that this is currently one of the most and least recognized form of neurodiversity. Most because people are aware of and envy “geniuses” and least because being gifted is so much more than just a high IQ. The term “gifted” needs to change because it does not address the challenges that come with the neurodiversity and can bring shame to gifted individuals because they feel like they have to live up to the name in a neurotypical way.

•  Giftedness Redefined: Recognizing Neurodiversity and Emotional Needs

• The Art of Deep Listening: Reconnecting with Ourselves and Others

• Please Stop Looking at My Finger

• Treat the Trauma, Support the Neurodiversity

Hopes Fears and Salves

Hopes

• My intuition tells me everything will sort itself out. I sure hope so.

• That periods of chaos lead to higher order.

• That it is true that hard times make strong people.

Fears

• Things won’t get sorted out and this is the beginning of a long drawn out period of catastrophe.

• The chaos compounds and becomes even more chaotic.

• People are not getting stronger but rather are doubling down on waiting to be rescued.

Salves

• If things get hard enough, we have no choice but to get stronger. The main super power of humanity is adaptability.

• Chaos is a constant. What changes is our perception of chaos. Some periods of time make chaos more obvious than others.

• Hard times act as periods of reckoning. Like rock bottom moments in an addict’s life, we are given gifts disguised as crises. When we overcome, we find out what we are made of.